5150 Iconic does the Brown Sound

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EVH 5150 Iconic - Green Channel without Boost (Brown Sound)​



I can't see the first video but that second one sounds as good as anything I've ever heard. I sub to this guys YT channel and he is a monster player though. This might be my next amp... or are the other EVH amps better?
 
I can't see the first video but that second one sounds as good as anything I've ever heard. I sub to this guys YT channel and he is a monster player though. This might be my next amp... or are the other EVH amps better?
The video that is now unavailable for some reason was 8 minutes long and he played a montage of alot of different VH songs on the green channel just varying the preamp gain levels and I thought it was really good and showed how flexible the green channel was, he was getting plexi tones out of it up to higher gain plexi/superlead. I don't know why he took it down, it was his most recent posting of that amp.

He is using a standard EVH 4x12 cabinet with greenbacks. You hear the solid state influence somewhat but it adds a bitey crunch to the core tone that say a MightyMite 1300/1400 pickup would impart to a tube amp to give it that hair and crunch on the single notes. I love my MM1400 through my VH spec 68 plexi but it may not sound as good through this amp. I imagine you would need something like a Duncan 78model.
 
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This amp got so much negative press before anyone even heard it! I’d like to see a video that blindly A/Bs this amp vs the older 5150/6505 series and the newer 5150iii series.
 
Yep, as soon as everyone heard what the price was, immediately they thought it was junk,

Just like the suit shop that had an incredible deal on tailor-made suits for $199, but they weren’t selling any, so they put the price up to $699, then they all sold.
 
Someone posted that Ed actually wanted this amp to be less modern, less like the 5150 and more in the vein of his 12301 amp but with more gain.

Well..................................................

I hear alot of plexi clank in the gain structure with this amp so maybe that statement is true maybe it's not.
 
Wonder how good the combo sounds? I've been looking for a Plexi amp to compliment my 2204.. might have to give this one a try. I've really only seen the videos this guy has made and he is a much better guitar player than most so that might have something to do with it too.
 
I’m really impressed with this clip. It goes to show how easy it is to add that touch too much gain and end up with a disappointing overall sound. This clip has nice string separation and articulation without sounding like it would fight with your leads. When it comes to gain, less really is more - especially when using a lower wattage speaker like the 20 watt G12-EVH that add their own compression to the overall sound.
 
I agree with Ola, the clean channel with OD is where it’s at!! All my other 5150’s I always go straight to the red!! ??‍♂️
 
I’m really impressed with this clip. It goes to show how easy it is to add that touch too much gain and end up with a disappointing overall sound. This clip has nice string separation and articulation without sounding like it would fight with your leads. When it comes to gain, less really is more - especially when using a lower wattage speaker like the 20 watt G12-EVH that add their own compression to the overall sound.
You would have really liked that 8 minute clip that he pulled down on the green channels where he turns it way down and it got pretty plexi like not smooth or clean plexi... crunchy rude plexi. I think the green channel is pretty cool. I could see using the red for solo's and maybe something like Balance tone where it is more modern 5150 OG tone.
 
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I have all 3 5153 100 watt heads and both PV 5150 heads, not sure why I had to have the Iconic but I reluctantly pre ordered it. Got it a couple days ago and I like it!!

Go figure!!
Which is your favorite?
 
I've had the amp for a couple days so it's still a honeymoon period. However, I think it punches well above it's weight in tone and features.

It's very much in the 5150 family, but I'd say the mids are more relaxed by a tad and the presence seems to come on faster with a sweet spot between 11-22 o'clock on the dial. The amp is definitely bright, but so are the other evh variants if you push them.

If anything, this is the tightest 5150 amp of the bunch, but I certainly wouldn't describe it as a solid state feel. I find myself on the green overdrive channel with a boost out front and totally digging what's coming out of the speakers.

Plenty of low end, but the low mids do not seem quite as full. This probably lends to the tightness and punchy nature of the amp, as there aren't as many lower or low mid frequencies to keep on check.

James brown mentioned to me the green channel with overdrive switch on is meant to sound like the blue channel of the regular 5150 iii and I can hear that. It's more open and less nasal than the green channel on the Peavey variant. Mich tighter as well.

The red channel isn't my thing, but it hasn't been my thing on any of the evh amps. Lots of compression and over the top gain, although less gain than say the standard 5150iii. Mids are a bit clanky and this channel sounds a tad hollow, overall. I could definitely see it appealing to 80's shredded types, though.

Noise gate is meh. Gates some preamp hiss but not so much your signal, doesn't clamp down like a gate out front of the amp. Reminds me of the Jsx noise gate.

The burn is a nice function if you want a clean boost to fatten the amp up. Can really push the red channel over the top and fatten it at the same time.

For $900, it seems like a no brainer for someone in the market for a brand new, feature filled amp from a reputable company at yesterday's prices. I think it's a win and accomplishes exactly what it's et out to do.
 
I've had the amp for a couple days so it's still a honeymoon period. However, I think it punches well above it's weight in tone and features.

It's very much in the 5150 family, but I'd say the mids are more relaxed by a tad and the presence seems to come on faster with a sweet spot between 11-22 o'clock on the dial. The amp is definitely bright, but so are the other evh variants if you push them.

If anything, this is the tightest 5150 amp of the bunch, but I certainly wouldn't describe it as a solid state feel. I find myself on the green overdrive channel with a boost out front and totally digging what's coming out of the speakers.

Plenty of low end, but the low mids do not seem quite as full. This probably lends to the tightness and punchy nature of the amp, as there aren't as many lower or low mid frequencies to keep on check.

James brown mentioned to me the green channel with overdrive switch on is meant to sound like the blue channel of the regular 5150 iii and I can hear that. It's more open and less nasal than the green channel on the Peavey variant. Mich tighter as well.

The red channel isn't my thing, but it hasn't been my thing on any of the evh amps. Lots of compression and over the top gain, although less gain than say the standard 5150iii. Mids are a bit clanky and this channel sounds a tad hollow, overall. I could definitely see it appealing to 80's shredded types, though.

Noise gate is meh. Gates some preamp hiss but not so much your signal, doesn't clamp down like a gate out front of the amp. Reminds me of the Jsx noise gate.

The burn is a nice function if you want a clean boost to fatten the amp up. Can really push the red channel over the top and fatten it at the same time.

For $900, it seems like a no brainer for someone in the market for a brand new, feature filled amp from a reputable company at yesterday's prices. I think it's a win and accomplishes exactly what it's et out to do.
Does the boost just add volume?
 
Does the boost just add volume?
It's like adding a clean boost out front of the amp. Doesn't add volume but it will fatten your signal and add saturation the mortgage you turn it up.
 
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